Binder.



PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

F. A. CLEVELAND.

BINDER. APPLICATION FILED MAYII. 1905.

a-r /l/s Arron/155W UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application led May 17, 1905. Serial No. 260,784.

To all whom, it muy concern:

-Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. CLEVE- LAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have inventedA certain new and useful Improvements in Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to binders of the loose-leaf type, the object being to provide a device of simple construction for use in connection with covers or binders of this class, which will be positive in its action and easily operated. The use of binders of this description is well undersood, and it is not thought necessary to enter into an explanation of their operation further than to state the princi al requirement, which is that any number oi) pages or leaves may be inserted, replaced, or taken out without disturbing the remaining leaves.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which shall meet this requirement and accomplish the result by the use of a simple locking mechanism, which does not require separate keys or other devices to operate the same, and which shall be self-contained and operated by turning the book on one side to-lock the covers in any desired position and to release the same by simply reversing the position of the book. To accomlish this result, I provide an upper and ower clamping-section, which may be attached to the covers of a binder. These clamping-sections are normally held apart by the action of springs contained in telescoping members attached to said clamping-sections in the usual manner. Attached to one of these clamping-sections, preferably the upper, I provide a post which carries a pawl or dog which is adapted to engage projections on the interior of a cooperating post or casing which is secured to the lower clampingsection. This latter post or casing is adapted to telescope over the post carrying the pawl or dog. The construction of these parts is such that when the clamping-sections are in the position just indicated a free inward movement is permitted and the pawl or dog will operate to prevent an outward movement of the members. As the position of the clamping-sections and attached covers is reversed the pawl 0r dog will fall out of engagement and allow the clamping-sections to be separated by the action ofthe springs heretofore referred to or by other suitable means.

The construction and operation of the device will be more fully explained in connection with the drawings accompanying this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective side elevation of a pair of clamping-sections or binder-frames with the covers and leaves of the book omitted. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation in section of the post and casing carrying the locking mechanism. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation and detail view of the post carrying the pawl or dog.

In Fi 1, at 1 and 2, is shown an upper and lower c amping-section, respectively, which may be attached by any suitable means to the covers of the binder. At 3 3 are shown telescoping members containing springs which operate normally to separate the clamping-sections 1 and 2, At 4 is shown a post attached to the upper clamping-section 1 by any suitable means and in such a manner that it may be rotated therein. This post carries at its lower end a pawl or dog, such as shown at 5. This dog is not attached to the post 4, but is carried in a slot at the-lower end of said post and rests upon a support, such as 6. The support 6 has an extension at one side thereof and is so shaped as to provide a fulcrum and stop against which the pawl 5 will be operated by gravity as it is swung into and out of engagement with the projections on the interior of the casing 7. These projections in the casing 7 are preferably in the form of a spiral or thread, as shown. The casing 7 may be attached by any suitable means to the lower clampingsection 2. The slot in the lower end of the post 4 has its lower portion closed by the stop 6, which is fastened therein by any suitable means. This provides a chamber or recess between the upper portion of the slot and the stop 6. The upper portion of the slot is formed at an angle with the axis ofthe post 4 in order to provide Jfor the movement of the pawl 5 in the slot and also to limit said movement.

The outer end of the pawl 5 is provided with a proj eotion which is adapted to engage the spiral toothed projections on the interior of the casing 7 when said pawl is in the position shown in Fig. 2. The opposite end of the pawl is curved in the arc of a circle and is IOO adapted to fulcrum against that portion of the stop 6 which has a similar complementary form. The portion of the pawl extending below the projection which engages the casing is also curved on the arc of a circle taken from the center about which the pawl swings. This construction allows the pawl to` drop by the action of gravity out of engagement with the casing when the covers are reversed in position. The movement of the pawl in this case will be the same as it would have if it were pivoted at the center of curvature of the end thereof. Many advantages will be apparent in the construction shown over a pivoted construction, however, among which may be noted a more positive action, less friction and wear on account of the increased bearing-surface, and less liability to bind or stick in its motion. The pawl is not attached to the post, but is retained in an operative position in the recess onfaccount of the peculiar shape of said recess and pawl. W'hen the covers are reversed from the position shown in the drawings, a slight downward pressure will release the point of the pawl from engagement withthe projections on the inner surface of the casing and allow it to drop by the action of gravity against the upper portion of the slot, in which positionthepoint of the pawlwill not engage the projections upon the inner surface of the casing, and the covers may be separated by the springs heretofore referred to, allowingl the removal or replacing of the leaves contained therein. Upon again reversing the covers back to the vposition shown in the drawings the pawl will drop by the action of gravity into the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the upper cover may be pressed down until the leaves are securely clamped or held. The point of the pawl in this position will engage the projections on the inner portion of the casing and retain the clamping members and covers in position. A further tightening may be effected by turning the post 4 and the pawl carried therein which engages the spiral thread-like projection on the interior of the casing 7. The post 4L may be turned by using an ordinary screw-driver in the slot of the screw at the upper end thereof or by other suitable means, such as a knurled head, &c.

It will be noted that the device herein shown and described as an illustration of an operative embodiment of my invention is composed of a very small number of parts and that such parts are of a simple construction and may be easily and cheaply manufactured. It will also be noted that the device when assembled is very compact in form and that the operating parts are self-contained within the same. I do not confine myself, however, to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made therein to adapt the device to its several uses without departing from the scope of my invention.

l. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post and fulcrumed therein and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.

2. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post having a slot at the lower end thereof attached to one of said clamping members, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post and fulcrumed therein and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.

3. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post having a slot at the lower end thereof attached to one of said clamping members, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post in said slot and fulcrumed therein in such a manner that the bottom of said slot forms a stop to limit the movement of said pawl or dog, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.

4.- In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of Asaid clamping members, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post and fulcrumed therein and adaptedto engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing having a serrated inner surface secured to the other of said clamping members and adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.

5. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post and fulcrumed therein andadapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing having a threaded inner surface secured to the other of said clamping members and adapted to telescope over said post, means for rotating said post in said casing., substantially as described.

In a binder, the combinationof a pair of clamping members, a post having a chamber at the lower end thereof attached to one of said clamping members, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post and fulcrumed therein and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.

7. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post having a slot at the lower end thereof, said slot being par- IOO IIO

tially closed by means of a stop member secured therein, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said postin said slot and fulcrumed against said stop member and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.

8. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post and having one end thereof adapted to be fulcrumed therein and the other end thereof adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.

9. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post and having one end thereof curved to fulcrum therein and the other end thereof adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of Asaid clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.

10. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post and having one end thereof formed on a circular arc to fulcrum therein and the other end thereof adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.

11. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post having a slot at the lower end thereof, said slot being partially closed by means of a stop member secured therein, a sto member having a portion thereof adapte to form a fulcrum for a pawl or dog, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post in said slot and having one end thereof adapted to be fulcrumed against said stop member and the other end thereof adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured. to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.

12. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post having a slot at the lower end thereof, said slot being partially closed by means of a stop member secured therein, a stop member having a portion thereof curved to form a fulcrum for a pawl or dog, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post in said slot and having one end thereof curved to adapt it to be fulcrumed against said stop member and the other end thereof adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.-

13. In a binder, the combination of a pair ofclamping members, a post having a slot at the lower end thereof, said slot being partially closed by means of a stop member secured therein, a stop member having a portion thereof formed on a circular arc to provide a fulcrum for a pawl or dog, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post in said slot and having one end thereof formed on a circular arc to adapt it to be fulcrumed against said stop member and the other end thereof adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.

14. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post having a slot at the lower end thereof, said slot being parti ally closed by means of a stop member secured therein, a stop member having a portion thereof formed on a circular arc to provide a fulcrum for a pawl or dog, an unattached pawl or dog carried by said post in said slot and having one end thereof formed on a circular arc to adapt it to be fulcrumed against said stop member and having at the other end thereof a projection adapted to engage coperating projections on the inner surface of a casing, a casing having proj ections from the inner surface thereof adapted to engage said projection on said pawl or dog, said casing being secured to the other of said clamping members and adapted to telescope over said post, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 16th day of May, A. D. 1905.

FREDERICK A. CLEVELAND.

Witnesses:

L. S. Friso, H. A. DUNN.

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